Mower cutter bar mounting and adjusting means



Nov. 13, 1951 w. J. COULTAS ETAL 2,574,691

MOWER CUTTER BAR MOUNTING AND ADJUSTING MEANS Filed May 11, 1948 3 Sheets-Sheetfi I20 51 E3 5 7a 76 77 79 [HZ/67235715: h/Zlhunf (valia MZarz 3-. 6vZvrz, hall/X0215. P Zmer,"

Nov. 13, 1 w. J. COULTAS EIAL MOWER CUTTER'BAR MOUNTING AND ADJUSTING MEANS Filed May 11, 1948 I 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 s a s rv y 2% a a! fl wwd 0/ 6 am mmd ll bi Z W3 Patented Nov. 13, 1951 MOWER CUTTER BAR MOUNTING AND ADJUSTING MEANS Wilbur. J. Coultas and Nolan D. Colvin, Moline, andWilliam B. Palmer, Rock Island, 111., as signors to Deere & Company, Moline,,Ill., ,a corporation of Illinois Application Mayll, 1948-, Serial No'. 26,323

12 Claims This. invention relates to an agricultural implement. and more particularly to an agricultural implement .of the mower type. More specifically, the invention relates to general improvements in mowers and particularly to improvements in means for raising and loweringxthemower cutter bar, or comparable. implement part, and means for arranging an implement for connection to or disconnection from the tractor or other carrying vehicle.

Although the principles of the invention. are applicableto a wide variety of agricultural implements, it is especially. adapted for usein connection with tractorzmounted mowers; Still'further, certain parts oftthe invention may be readily ad'apted to mowers ofany type.

The usual: mower includesa carrying frame and cutting: mechanism. mounted" thereon. In the case of'a tractor mounted mower, the tractor provides the carrying frame. Inv any case,- the cuttingmechanism includes a cutterbarmounted on the carrying frame. for" vertical movement between a horizontal'operating position and a -sub stantially vertical transport position, provision being made for folding thecutter bar about a longitudinal, horizontal-axis'to provide for vertical'swinging of the same. Part of the range of movementiof: the cutter bar'from its horizontal.

position to its vertical position is, of course, utilized in the operation of the mower, inasmuch as the-cutterbaris'adaptedeto be raised and lowered within a limited range to ,vary-the-cutting height thereof. Further, in any case, the lateral-overhang orex-tension of the cutter bar is such that the cutter bar constitutes a powerful-lever arm and" the. mechanism for raising and: loweringthe cutter bar must include means affording the. necessary power to accomplish the raising and lowering. Whether. the raising and lowering means is. manually or power operated; it-is found desirable inmost cases to provide a-counter--bal, ancing or assisting spring connected between the carrying-frame and-the lifting mechanism in such manner as to tend to loalance'thenatural tendency ofithe cutter bar to remain in its horizontal position because of its own weight. 7

Because of the relatively great poweraoithis counter-balancing or assisting: spring; it .has been found; that retaining of the spring in; its operating position while the mower isbeing disconnectedfrom the, tractonor is-otherwise placed. in a stored or temporary unusedposition, is disade vantageous, both from. the standpoint. ofv over..- tensioning thev spring andfromthe standpoint of leaving the mower withuncontrollable. parts likely to cause collapse of the mower about its normal operating pivots. One of the principal objects of the present invention relates tomeans for relieving the tension-0n the counterbalancing orassisting spring when the mower is placed in disconnected or unused position. In thisrespect, it is an important object to utilize the powerful lever arm of thecutter bar as means for accomplishing the-relieving of tension-on the spring, Specifically, it is an object of the invention to utilize: the cutter. bar) for: temporarily stretching the spring so that-part ofthe lifting; means may be disconnected, after which the cutter bar. is moved manually.- to its vertical position and-the spring may retract to ano-load'condition.

A further object' of the invention pertains-to the provision, as part of the-lifting and lowering means, of an arm having a plurality of apertures and a notch therein, and to utilize one ofthe apertures for'effecting a,connection between the cutter bar, and arm,.to utilizeanother aperture for :holclingthe cutterbar in-raised'position, and to usethe notch as means for-connecting a detachable member between the armand cutter bar. whereby the-cutter bar maybeforcibly depressedzfor thepurpose of relieving stress on the connectinglink so that the link maybe removed to permit the springto assume a no-load position.

Still further objects of the invention are to improve mower constructionsin general, and specifically to provide a mower frame comprising relatively; few parts easily assembled and providing' for a' highly efficient and economical mower construction.

The foregoing andotherimportant objects and desirable featuresinherent inv and encompassed by the invention will; become apparent to those skilled in the art, as the disclosure is more fully made of a preferrediform' of the invention in the following detailed: description"and'accompanying sheets of drawings, in which.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a rear portion of a tractor-mounted mower;

Figure 2 is a rear elevational view of the mower as shown resting on the ground, portions of the mower being broken away to diSGlOSBfStlLlC'rtural parts thereof;

Figure 3' is aperspective view, on an enlarged scale, showing the mowerina disconnectedposition with respect to the tractor;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary perspective view showing the rear portion of the tractor and mower with the cutter bar-in vertical or transport position;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary perspective view showing the manner of utilizing the cutter bar as a lever arm in relieving the load on the counterbalancing r assisting spring;

Figure 6 is an exploded perspective view showing the main components of the mower; and

Figure '7 is a fragmentary perspective view of the left-hand rear portion of the mower, showing the mounting of the supporting skid on the mower drive casting.

Although the invention has been illustrated in connection with a mower of a particular type, the applicability of the invention to other mowers and other implements in general will become apparent as the description progresses. It should be understood, therefore, that the specific disclosure is to be taken as illustrative and not limting.

The mower shown here is of the tractormounted type and the tractor may be of any well known type, here being shown as including a rear body portion I0 carried on laterally spaced traction wheels II and I2. The body I0 carries between the wheels II and I2 an operators seat I3 beneath which may be located power control mechanism (not shown) of any conventional type including a power control arm I4 which may be utilized to supply the necessary power for raising the mower or implement part to be hereinafter described. a

Figure 3 shows the tractor as being equipped with a drawbar, indicated generally by the nu meral I5. This drawbar may be of the type including a pair of forwardly extending side members I6 and I1 and a rear transverse member or bar I8, as in U. S. Patent 2,503,096. The forward portions of the members I6 and I! may be pivoted to a part of the tractor for vertical swinging of the drawbar about a transverse axis, the details of which form no part of the present invention and have therefore not been illustrated and will not be described. The drawbar I is normally locked in any one of a plurality of selected positions by means of a perforated plate I9 carried by the tractor and releasable means carried by the drawbar. The releasable means may include a pin 2| equipped with a handle 22 and adapted to engage any one of a plurality of apertures in the plate I9. Associated with the handle 22 is a cam member 23 having alternate high and low stops for engaging the handle 22 so that the pin 2| may be held in retracted position out of engagement with the plate I9 or may be permitted to move into engagement with an one of the apertures in the plate I9. When the loclring means is engaged, of course, the drawbar cannot move vertically. However, the locking means may be released so that the drawbar may be moved vertically by means of the power control arm I4 and a chain 24 connected between the arm and an ear 25 on the left hand drawbar member I6. The drawbar further includes a connecting member 26 rigidly connected preferably to a mid-point of the transverse bar 6 and extended forwardly therefrom. The mem. ber 26 has a vertical aperture 21, which is used to connect the mower to the tractor in a manner to be set forth below.

The mower includes a main frame structure, designated generally by the numeral 36 and comprising upper and lower transverse members 3| and 32. The lower member has rigidly secured thereto forwardly extending hitch structure, designated generally by the numeral 33, the details of which form the subject matter of our co-pending application, Serial No. 26,324, filed May 11,

Iii

1948. Briefly, the hitch structure includes a forwardly extending U-shaped member having a transverse bight portion 34 apertured at 35 and provided with rearwardly extending legs 36 and 31. The leg 36 is provided with a forwardly extending upper portion 38 spaced thereabove to provide a pocket capable of receiving the left hand end portion of the transverse drawbar member IS. The right hand leg 3'! is provided with a similar portion 39 for the same purposes with rcspect to the right hand end portion of the bar I8. The portions 36 and 38 are vertically apertured in alignment at 40 for the purpose of receiving a securing member in the form of a wedge 4|; and the portions 31 and 39 are similarly apertured at 42 for the purpose of receiving a similar wedge 43. Although these parts are shown in disconnected positions in Figure 3, it will be understood that the tractor is backed toward the mower until the bar I8 is received in the pockets formed by the portions 36-38 and 3'I39, after which the wedges II and 43 are dropped in place. The vertical aperture 35 comes directly below the aperture 21 in the connecting member 26 on the drawbar I5, and the aligned apertures receive a securing means in the form of a bolt 44 having a nut 45. The wedges 4| and 43 and the bolt 44 are interconnected by a flexible element in the form of a chain 46 which precludes separation of the elements and guards against loss thereof. When the mower is connected to the tractor drawbar by the means just referred to, right and left hand pivoted spring clips 4! and 48 are respectively moved in place to engage the wedges 43 and 4| to prevent dislodging of the wedges.

As best shown in Figure 6, the members 3| and 32 are substantially coextensive and are connected together at their stubbleward ends by means providing a pivot on a vertical axis, the

,- general location of which is visible at 50 in Figure 3 and the components of which comprise a vertical pivot pin 5| which passes respectively through apertures 52 and 53 in the members 3| and 32. The pin or bolt 5| is held in place to interconnect the parts by means of a spring, washer, and nut, designated respectively at 54, 55 and 56. The arrangement is such that the member 3| is carried directly on the member 32 for rearward swinging of the former with respect to the other about the axis provided by the pin or bolt 5|. The grassward ends of the members 3| and 32 are releasably interconnected by release means, indicated generally by the numeral 60, including a pintle 6| on the member 32 and springloaded latch members 62 and 63 carried on bracket structure 64 rigidly secured to the grassward end of the member 3|. The particular type of latch mechanism shown forms the subject matter of the U. S. Patent to Coultas 2,292,362; although, many well known types of release means may be substituted therefor. When the two members 3| and 32 are interconnected by the release means 60, they form, in efiect, a single structural member for the mower and therefore will be hereinafter collectively referred to as the mower structure 36, except as regards characteristics peculiar to one member or the other.

The stubbleward end of the mower structure 30 is provided with mounting means in the form of a pair of rearwardly and downwardly extending angle bars 65 and 66 (Figures 2 and 6), the vertical flange of each of which is provided with transverse apertures 61 and 68, respectively, to provide for the mounting of a support which here takes the form of a casting or housing 69. As

besti shcwmin Figure 2-; asintermediate pontion of? the: support 011:- liousing is provided Withi left andirieht hand ateralli extending bosses ands? 11-; respectively through whichm ands the: lower: aligned apertures- 61 and 6& a bolti 122 is assed: provide means for securing the'liousing'cto: the fian'gesof the membersfii and 6i? Anupperportiei'r of the'liousing: 69 is 'provitled -witlrasimilar pair of bosses": T3 and I4 apertured inalignment tereceive-- a transverse bolt; which. is passed through the upper 1 aligned pair" of apertures 6-1: and 68 the angle members 65 and 665 The: castingczii 'suppori', 69 is: thussimply an" rigidly held in place on the-mower: structure:30;: specifi cally on theuppen member- .fi V

The casting orsuppor-t-Gil carries at an upper portion thereorabearing 'l'Ii for'j ournaling: a Tong-itud'ihal shaftfi This s l i'aft extends forwardly and hasuniversal j'oiht connection I B Eig-ure: 3') witli a shaft" artfl 'wiiich may form part of a rmnventicnalpower t'a'ke off" connectionto' the: ower takeofi shaft (not shown): at the tractor. Suitable safety shieldingincludiiigseparable secticfisml; B l and fli (Figure 1 maybe-provided. for enc-losingth ovwzr take-oft connectiona In tiie drawings the shield section Be -conceals thepowertake-cfi 'shaftor the tractor; but since the construction in thisrespectis well'lmown tothose Skilled irl theart itisdeemedunnecessaryto i1lustrateit further.

The lower portion of the supporting casting 69 journals a 'shaft 'fl5 which is below and parallel 'to' the=shaft11 *rear endsof'the shafts 'll and 88=have rcspcctii y keyedtheretodrivine ulleys 86 an'cl 81* which are connectedby an endless belt 88. e-forw'ard endoftheshaft 85=maybe pro vfried witlrtheconventional itman eccentricxas iridicated 'attil in Figures-1", 3' and-Tand'as shown; forexam le; in U? s-e Patentzyi'l gsava' The supporting 'structuremrovidd 'by tlie casting': 69 provides' meansfor-"carrying on the mower structure 30" cutting" mechanism indicated gen erally by" thenumeral 9'0: This cutting mecha nism' includes: a laterally extending drag bar or cbupling'ba'r l having its stubbl'ewardendbent atSTtdprovide ar'longitudinal pivot in cooperati'onwithabearingfi out-lie casting-69 1 The grassward endjof" the drag, bar 91* may be prog vided; as is: conventional-1,, with a-yok'e ilfi to which is connected a laterally extending'cut'ter bar 95 5 The. connection between the "cutter 'bar 'and yoke is: on a; longitudinal pivot axis" through aligned portionst96 and 'QI'i' The cutting mechanism thus constitutes: an: implement part vertically swingably,carriedjby'the'supporting. structurefi 0-; or for movement: in" two phases (here? upwardly and downwardly); In: the'caseof the'mower illustrated, the, coupling or drag; bar" 91" is pivoted on the castingji 6'9" and the cutter bar is i'nturn pivotedon'theicouplingbar. The pitmaneccentiic 89 isconn'ected' to'the' stubbleward endof a' transversely, extendingpitman 9.8" (Figures3 and7 the;grasswardendbfwhich is connected; as usual-, to a knife or" sickle" 9l9'. carried by the cutter" bar 551cc that power developediby the power takeoff shaft of the" tractor? may be' transmitted through: the pulleys 86 and8'l" to the knifeor sickleflflf That portion of the cutter bar '95 that provides" the connection with. the" yoke 94" of i the dlaggbar'S I" includesa' ground enga'ging shoe-I-0'0 on which thecutting mechanismri'deswhenthe cuttefbaris intoperating' position.

The bracket 6E? at the? grassward" endof*the mower" structure 30 is" provided with a plurality comprl'sing ai rear: can I 05'. (Flgs.- L and 2 mile pair: of: closely spaced. and; alinedl forward: ears l forrcarrying' a movable member the form: of?

bell crank structure, indicated generally by:

thenumera-ll I96. The bell crank includes a first, laterally extending arm III I andin'tegral mean's providing; a: second; vertica-l arm I08 The bell'i crank is appropriately braced by a. bar= HIBi'WhiCh is pivoted to the rear ear I053 on: the bra'cketi 61; Thebell. crank or: memben I I16 is: thus rockable: in opposite directions: about: the: longitudinal pivot axis: through the bracket 64' sothat the arm'- IIll moves vertically and the-arm I08 moves laterally; Thev'grassward end of thearm I01 is: provided -with a pair-of'apertures I I-ll and I I I and also with a connection element in the form ot a notch H2 Theyokei il l'sofithe cut'tingv mecha' nismis provided with: gag lever mechanism; indicated-generally at I 15; which may berof anywell known-- construction, including a laterally inwardly extending arm H6 which is operable by thebell crank I06 in amanner to'belpresently described.

The-load transmitting-means for interconnecting the bell crank I06 comprises ail-detachable link I I T- 'ha'ving a hooke'd lowen end receivableby the apertured end-of' thegag-lever arm l' lt. The upper end of the link isformed as; an: eye to receive a det'a'chable lost motion' -connectingmeans in th-e-'form-of" an S-hook IIB connectible to thebelILcranh-arm-I U! by means of'the inner aperture II'BS with raising and lowering of thecutterbar '95'; the detachable link means [H -H8 being stressed betweenthe bell crank and cutter bar'by upward movement of the" arm I 01, to raise-the "cut"- ter 'bar, and by descent of thecutter bar to:-its horizontal position. A

The means for rockingtlie' bell crank I06 is hereshown as" being power operated and" as deriving its power from the power control arm I4 5 When-the mower ismounted on the-tractor; the lifting chain 2 4 previously described is disconnecte'd' from the arm If so that the arm may receive one end of--'a lifting'chain IZ'O'K-Figure I)". This'chainpassesaround a sheave I ZI- on the mower structure and is connected at I 2 2 to an inner'p'ortion ofthe-bellcrank I062 The sheave I21 is carried on a'support I23"whichis-inturn rigidly carried bythemounting structure i'ncludi'ng the left-hand angle member- 65 I (Figure 2")". It'wilrbe understood of course that the lifting means illustrated is only representative of manyforms that the lifting means could as sume; and 'need'not necessarily be power'operated;

Since-the mounting ofthecutter bar is such thatits Weight-WiIlnaturalIycause it-to remainin its horizontal or operating position; a good deal ofpower is required inmostinstances to elevate the cutter bar, the amount of power required being in direct proportion to the length of the cutterybar: For the purpose-of 'coLmter-balancingthe weight of' the cutter bar, it is customary to provide a springer"equivalent-resilient oryieldwble means associated in an appropriate manner with the liftingand lowering-mechanism. Such acoildttmsion spring I25 connected' at on'eend at I'2'6 'to the'b'ell cranle I062 The spring-extends laterallyto the left-hand side ofthe rrameistruce ture and includes a COHHGCtlIlg Z members: in:- the formof. a boltillli (FiguretZ) receivedgby a; for? It will thus be seen that locking" of the bell crank about its pivot axiswilFbein unison wardly extending ear I28 on the left hand angle member 65 (Figure 6). The spring is normally tensioned to urge the bell crank I96 in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in Figures 1 and 2, thereby stressing or tensioning the link means II'II I8 and acting through the gag lever mechanism tendency of the cutter bar 95 to remain in its horizontal or operating position. The spring I25 thus acts in parallel with the lifting mechanism for raising the cutter bar 95.

- As best shown in Figures 2 and 7, the support or casting 69 has secured to a lower portion thereof a pair of depending plates I39 which are spaced apart laterally to provide means for carrying a ground-engaging member in the form of a longitudinal skid I3I. The skid extends forwardly a substantial distance ahead of the hitching structure 33 and at its forward end is connected at I32 to the forward end of a horizontally disposed, diagonally extending brace I33, the rear end of which is connected at I34 to an upper portion of the yoke 94,- thus providing bracing means between the forward end of the skid and the grassward end of the drag bar 9I. As best indicated in Figure 1, the skid I3 I-, during normal or operating position of the tractor and mower, extends forwardly substantially directly below those parts of the driving mechanism including the shaft 85, pulley 8! and pitman eccentric 89, thus affording protection to these parts against obstacles in the field. The forward portion of the skid I3I is additionally braced with respect to the frame structure 39 by means of a rearwardly and upwardly extending brace member I35 (Figures 2 and 3), the forward end of which is connected to the skid I3I and the rear end of which is connected to the bracket 94 at the grassward end of the frame structure 39. The frame structure is additionally braced by means of a transverse brace J36 which is connected at its stubbleward end to the casting or support 69 and at its grassward end to the bracket 64 (Figure 2).

When the mower is disconnected from the tractor and rests on the ground, as shown in Figure 2, the skid I3I serves as a support for carrying the stubbleward side of the mower. Inasmuch as the cutting mechanism is connected to the mower frame structure 39 by means of the I pivots at 9293, it is obvious that the rassward end of the mower structure would collapse if not supported. For this purpose, there is provided at the grassward side of the mower structure 39 a depending member I49 rigidly secured at its upper end to the bracket 34 and having its free or lower end engageable with an intermediate portion of the drag bar 9 I. The member I49 serves'the dual function of a support when the mower is in the disconnected position, as shown in Figure 2, and. as a stopfor limiting upward swinging of the drag bar 9I during normal operation of the mower when mounted on the tractor, as shown in Figure l. The stop or limiting function of the member I49 is important from the standpoint of preventing excess upward movement of the coupling bar, thereby eliminating the possibility that the pitman 98 will be damaged by striking part of the mower frame structure 39. u

When it is desired to transport the mower, as when moving the unit from one field to another, the cutter bar 95 may be folded or moved to a verticaltransport position, as shown in Figure 4; in which case the cutter bar is pivoted about the H in opposition to the natural pivots 969I on the yoke 94. The cutter bar is moved to this position manually and is retained in that position by disconnectible or detachable means in the form of a transport rod I45 provided at one end with a hook I46 and at its other end with an eye I41 to which is attached an eye bolt I49 which is receivable through a connection element comprising an intermediate apertured portion of the cutter bar 95 (Figure 4) The eye bolt I48 constitutes part of means to secure the transport rod I45 to the cutter bar 95, the means being completed by a tail nut I49. The hooked end of the transport rod I45 is hooked, into the outermost aperture III of the ball crank I96 ment about the pivots 9'293 on the support orcasting 69. It will be understood, of course, that in the mounted position of the mower, the skid I3I is clear of the ground. Inasmuch asthe connection between the power control arm I4 and the bell crank I96 includes the lifting chain I29, the connection is flexible and the lifting and lowering means does not interferewith the rise and fall of the cutting mechanism. In the event that the cutter bar 95 encounters an obstacle in the field, the resistance to forward travel of the cutting mechanism is sufficient to overcome the spring-loaded release mechanism 69, whereupon the latches 62 and 63 are released from the pintle 6| so that the mower structure may swing rearwardlywith respect to the tractor, the rearward swinging movement taking place about the pivot 59 between the transverse members 3I and 32. It will be understood, of course, that the lower member 32, being part of the hitch structure33, remains with the tractor and the upper member 3|, being part of the main mower structure, swings rearwardly with the cutting mechanism and associated parts. Inasmuch as the sheave I 2I is located substantially directly above the pivot 59, there will be no interference of the lifting means with rearwardswinging of the cutting mechanism. The cutting mechanism may be reconnected for normal operation by backing the tractor until the release mechanism 69 is again connected, a procedure that is familiar to those skilled in the art.

The cutter bar 95 may be pivoted upwardly about the pivots 9991 on the yoke 94 by means of application of power to the bell crank I96 through the medium of the power control arm I 4 and lifting chain I29, the arm I4 rocking forwardly and upwardly to tighten the chain and to rock the bell crank I96 in a counterclockwise direction (as viewed in Figures 1 and 2). This action of the bell crank is assisted, of course, by the tension spring I25, and. the arm I97 of the bell crank moves upwardly to stress or tension the link means I I1--I I8, thereby effecting a leverage multiplication through the gag lever mechanism I I5, the latter function being also well known to those skilled in the art. Rocking of the bell crank I 99 in the direction indicated, and for a limitedextent, serves to pivot the cutter bar 95 9 upwardly about the pivot axis 95-591 :for the purpose of raising the cutter barover slightob- 'stacles in the field. Further rockingof the-bell crank I95 by the power control :arm I4 in "the same direction raises thecutter'bar still higher and ultimately pivots the drag bar 9| upwardly about its pivot 92 9-3, upward-movement of the drag bar being limited by the member I40 as :aforesaid. Reversal of power to the arm I4 .pro-

vides fo-r lowering the cutting mechanism. In the-ordinary case, this result isaccomplished by merely-exhausting the fluid pressure system (not shown) with which the arm I4 isassociated so that the cutting mechanism'will return to normal "or operating position by virtue 'of its own weight.

When it is desired to transport the tractor and mowing unit, as from one field to another, or anyconsiderable distancathe cutting mechanism -is first raised to its maximum extent bymeans ofthe power control arm 14, whereupon the drag bar9I will strike the stop member I49, thus disposing the grassward end of the cutter bar at a suitable level above the ground. The control-arm -I4 is held in this maximum upward position of the coupling bar 9| by suitable control mecha- :nism (not shown) associated with the arm. The transport rod I45, which is normally carried in a convenient place on the tractor, is then utilized to carry the cutter bar in the position shown in Figure 4, the cutter bar being raised manually to its vertical position. This result is accomplished by hooking the hooked end I46 of the transport rod I45 in the outer aperture III in the arm IElI in the bell crank I06. The other end of the transport :rod I45 is connected by the means I4'II49 to the cutter bar 95, as shown. Care must be taken to connect the inner endof thetransport rod I45 to the-bell crank I96 'by meansof the aperture HI ,and not the notch 2, since in the transport position-of the cutter bar 95, as shown in Figure 4, vibration of the machine during travel may dislodge the inner end of the rod from the notch.

When it is desired to disconnect the mower from the tractor, the cutting mechanism is first placed in the normal or cutting position shown .inFigure 1. The one end of the transport rod I45 is connected by the means -I4'I--I49 to the cutter barportion 95 as was the case when the cutter bar was raised to transport position as :shown in Figure 4. The cutter bar isthen elevated .toa height sufficient to permit connection between the hooked end I45 of the rod and the notch II2 of the arm I01 on the bell crank I95. In other words, this preliminary position will closely approximate that shown in Figure 4, except that the rod I45 is hooked into the notch II2 rather than into the outer aperture III. The operator, using the rod I45 as a force transmitting means, then forcibly pulls the cutter bar-downwardly about its pivot axis 969'I until it reaches its normal or horizontal position. The gag lever I I6 provides a relatively short lever arm movable through a relatively short angular range and acts between the bell crank I95 and cutter bar 95 to normally stress the link means II'II I9. On the other hand, the lever arm "included in that part of the cutter barbetween the pivot 96-'9'I and the connection portion or element 95 is relatively long and movable through a substantially relatively longer angular range than that of the lever arm I I5. Hence, the connection of the rod I45 between 95 and H2 .provides motion-multiplying means effective to 10 materially increase the travel 'ofthe bell crank I05 in a clockwise direction as viewed in Figures 'Zand 4, with the result that the normal stress in the link "means IlI--II8 is removed. Having thus depressed the cutter bar'to its nor- -mal or horizontal position the operator may maintain the cutter bar in this positionby stand"- ing on itas shown in Figure 5. Whilethus holding the cutter bar in forcibly depressed position, the operator may disconnect thelink means 'I'I-I--I"I8 by means'of removing the S-hook 8 from the inner aperture H5 in the'arm I01. If desired, the link -means may be completely removed by disconnecting the hooked lower end thereof irom the arm N5 of the gag lever mechanism -I I5. Figure-2 shows the parts with the linkrneans completely removed.

The forcible depression of the cutter bar '95 results in temporarily overloading the spring I25 so that the spring is str'etch'ed'a sufiicient distance to relieve "stress or tension on the link means Ill-H8 so that the latter may be removed. Theoperation just described is a'sim- "ple one and dependsmerely upon using 'the 'cutter bar -as'a lever for stretching the spring I25 so "that the detachable link means l-II---'I I8 may be removed. A similar result may be obtainable in any implement structure having corresponding? parts.

After the operator has'removed the link means Ill-4 I8, he may slowly relieve pressure on the cutter bar 95 so that it may move-upwardly to an extent permitting the tension spring I25 to retract itself to no-load condition, after which the rod I45 may be disconnected from the notch I l2 in the bell crank [06, and'the cutter bar may be againlowered to its horizontal position. The operation just described thus relieves tension on the spring I25 for the purposes aforesaid.

The next step in the procedure for detaching the tractor requires the disconnection of the lifting chain I20 from the control arm I4. The drawbar lifting chain 24 is then connected between the arm I 4 and the drawbar I5. The safety shield "section 8| is then removed, and the drawbar release means 20 is disconnected from'the locking plate I9 so that the drawbar maybe lowered under control of the power'control arm I4. The securing bolt 44 and wedges 4| and 43 are removed to condition the hitching structure 33 for disconnection from the drawbar. The power control arm is then actuated to lower the drawbar I5, together with the mower structurauntil the mower structure rests on the ground in the position shown in Figure 2, in which position it will be supported by the skid I3! and the ground-engaging shoe I99, the member I40 being engaged between the bracket 54 and intermediate portion of the drag bar9 I. The tractor may thenbe driven forwardly away from the mower structure.

The procedure for'mounting the mower on the tractor is just the reverse of'that described, and is briefly as follows: The tractor, with its draw- Tbar I5 set for vertical movement by the control arm I4 and lifting chain 24, is backed toward the mower until the bar I8 is received by the hitching structure 33. The power control arm I4 is then actuated to raise the drawbar, together with the mower structure, to the normal operating height of the mower, after which the locking means 29is connected with the "lockin plate I 9 to hold the drawbar 15in a fixed posi tion. The lifting chain 24 is then removed and ll the end of the lifting chain I20 is connected to the arm I4. Inasmuch as the portions 38 and 39 of the hitching structure 33 engage the transverse drawbar member I8 from above and the bight portion 34 engages the member 26 from below, the mower structure cannot tip rearwardly about the bar I8 as a fulcrum; therefore,

it is possible to elevate the mower to its normal height without securing same to the drawbar by the wedges M and 43 and bolt 44. After the drawbar is secured in place, the wedges and bolt are applied to complete the connection between the mower and tractor, and the pivoted spring clips 41 and 48 are swung over on top of the wedges to keep the latter in place. The transport rod I45 may then be applied between the cutter bar 95 and bell crank I06 for the purpose of stretching the spring I25 sufficiently to permit reconnection of the detachable link means III--I I8 between the bell crank and the gag lever mechanism H5. Reconnection of the .power take-off shafting and attachment of the safety shield section 8| completes the procedure and the mower is ready for operation.

We are aware that the principles of the invention as set forth herein are applicable to a wide variety of circumstances and that each case may require changes in the design or proportion of certain of the parts. The present disclosure is based upon a preferred form of the invention and is therefore not intended to be exclusive of other forms that the invention may take, since the invention is capable of various modifications and alterations, all of which may be accomplished without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

We claim:

1. A mower of the type adapted to be mounted on and dismounted from the drawbar of a, tractor, comprising: a generally horizontal frame; means on the frame for connection to and disconnection from a tractor drawbar; means at the stubbleward side of the frame including depending structure; means extending grasswardly from the depending structure including cutting mechanism having a drag bar pivoted on a longitudinal axis to said structure and provided with a ground engaging shoe at its grassward end, a longitudinal drive shaft journaled in said structure, and a transverse pitman connected at its stubbleward end to said shaft; means carried by said structure including a support disposed below and in protective relationship to the stubbleward ends of the drag bar and pitman and providing means for engaging the ground to support the stubbleward end of the frame when the frame is dismounted from the tractor drawbar; and means carried by a grassward portion of the frame and depending rigidly therefrom to a terminal end portion spaced normally above the drag bar and effective to engage the drag bar at times during operation of the mower to provide a stop for limiting upward swinging of the drag bar about the aforesaid longitudinal axis, said stop means further engaging the drag bar when the frame is dismounted from the tractor to provide means for supporting the grassward end of the frame from the ground through the medium of the drag bar and shoe.

2. The invention defined in claim 1, further characterized in that: the support is in the form of a skid extending longitudinally of the frame.

and combining with the shoe to provide means for facilitating moving of the mower while it is on the ground when dismounted from the tractor.

3. The invention defined in claim 1, further characterized in that: the support extends longitudinally from the depending structure to provide a portion spaced from said structure, a brace is connected at its stubbleward end to said portion and extends diagonally grasswardly to a grassward end in proximity to the cutting mechanism, and means is provided for connecting the grassward end of the brace to a grassward portion of the drag bar.

4. A mower; comprising: a single transverse horizontal bar having at its stubbleward end means including a pair of laterally spaced apart angle members providing a pair of longitudinally and vertically extending, laterally spaced apart mounting flanges having upper and lower flange portions projecting respectively above and below the bar; a support positioned between the flanges and depending below the bar and having portions thereof rigidly secured to said upper and lower flange portions; cutting mechanism carried by the support at a level below the bar and extending grasswardly from the support; and drive means for the cutting mechanism including a rotatable member journaled in the support.

5. The invention defined in claim 4, further characterized in that: a diagonal brace is rigidly connected between the depending portion of the support and a grassward portion of said bar.

6. The invention defined in claim 4, further characterized in that: the cutting mechanism includes a drag bar carried by the support for vertical movement with respect thereto and extending laterally therefrom substantially directly below the transverse bar, and said transverse bar includes a depending stop at its grassward end portion for limiting upward movement of the drag bar.

7. The invention defined in claim 4, further characterized in that: a ground-engaging member is carried below the support; the cutting mechanism includes a ground-engaging shoe spaced grasswardly from said ground-engaging member; and the grassward end portion of the transverse bar includes a depending member engageable with a part of said cutting mechanism so that the transverse bar may be supported on the ground by means of the ground-engaging member and ground-engaging shoe via engagement of said depending member with said cutting mechanism part.

8. In an implement having a frame and an implement part carried by the frame for movement selectively from and to a first position toward which the implement part has an initial bias, the improvement comprising: a member associated with the frame for movement relative thereto in a first direction, in opposition to the initial bias of the implement part, and also in a second direction, in accord with the initial bias of the implement part; means connected between the member and the frame for biasing the member in its first direction and yieldable to accommodate movement of the member in its second direction; load-transmitting means having a connection between the member and the implement part and normally stressed between said member and part by the opposition of one bias to the other, said connection including releasable lost-motion means effective to provide for release of the load-transmitting means upon "skew r,139i

"between said connectiomelements" in parallel with the load-transmitting meansv and effective upon movement of the'implementpart toward it s'fnormal position "to transmit force to the "member to move the member in its second direction, said connection elements and force-transmitting means including motion-multiplying means to increase said second-direction movement of the member sufficiently to remove stress from the load-transmitting means so as to effectuate said releasable lost-motion means.

9. In an implement having a frame and an implement part carried by the frame for movement about a pivot selectively from and to a position toward which the implement part has an initial bias, the improvement comprising: a member associated with the frame for movement relative thereto in a first direction, in opposition to the initial bias of the implement part, and also in a second direction, in accord with said initial bias; yielding means connected between the member and the frame for biasing the member in its first direction and yieldable to accommodate movement of the member in its second direction; load-transmitting means connected between the member and the implement part and normally stressed between said member and part because of opposition of one bias to the other, said load-transmitting means including a first lever arm acting between the member and implement part and movable through a relatively short angular range, said load-transmitting means further including a releasable lost-motion connection effective for release upon removal of stress from said loadtransmitting means; first and second connection elements respectively on the member and the implement part, said second connection element being so spaced from the pivot of the implement part as to constitute that portion of the implement part between said pivot and said second connection element a second lever arm movable through a relatively longer angular range than the aforesaid first lever arm; and forcetransmitting means connectible between said second lever arm and the member to increase the second-direction movement of the member by force applied to the implement part against the bias of the aforesaid yielding means so as to remove stress from, and thus to provide for release of, the load-transmitting means.

10. In a harvester having a frame and a cutter bar carried thereby on a horizontal pivot for vertical movement through a range including a horizontal operating position toward which it is biased because of its own weight and a vertical transport position to which it must be forcibly raised, the improvement comprising: an arm rockable on the frame and having a portion provided with an aperture and a notch; spring means connected between the arm and frame and biased to urge the arm to rock in a direction opposing the weight bias of the cutter bar; detachable link means having a connection at one end to the cutter bar relatively close to the cutter bar pivot and a connection at its other end to the arm via the aperture and normally stressed between the arm and cutter bar because of the opposition of one bias to the other, one of said it connections including lost-motion means effec-- tive upon shortening er the distance betweensaid firstaperture-and thef lltter bar to provide for detachment'of the link means; and a transport rod detachably "connectible at one end to the cutter bar at a point relatively remote from the cutter bar pivot and detachably connectible at its other'end to the notch i'n -the 'a'rm to provide for forcible depression of tliebutter bar to-increasethe movement of the arm against the bias of the spring means for shortening the aforesaid ,distance and thusto relieve stress on the link means "so that theuinkmeans may'be 'disconnected between the arm and cutter bar.

11. In a mower having a frame including a stubbleward portion and a grassward portion spaced therefrom and cutting mechanism carried by a pivot at the stubbleward portion and extending grasswardly therefrom for vertical movement about said pivot from a horizontal operating position to which it is biased because of its own weight and a vertical transport position to which it must be forcibly moved, the improvement comprising: a bell crank pivoted on the grassward portion of the frame on a longitudinal axis and including a first arm movable vertically and a second arm movable later-ally; spring means connected between the second bell crank arm and the stubbleward portion of the frame and tensioned to bias the second arm stubblewardly and the first arm upwardly in opposition to the bias of the cutting mechanism; link means having a detachable connection between the cutting mechanism and the first arm and normally tensioned by the opposition of the spring means to the bias of the cutting mechanism, said connection including lost-motion means effective upon relief of tension in the link means to provide for detachment of said link means; and force-transmitting means having a detachable connection to the first arm and a detachable connectionvto the cutting mechanism providing for forcibly depressing the cutting mechanism and rocking the bell crank to temporarily stretch the spring means, said force-transmitting means and detachable connections being so constructed and arranged as to increase the travel of the bell crank in the direction required to shorten the distance between the first arm and the cutting mechanism and thus to relieve tension in the link means so that the link means may be detached.

12. In an implement having a frame and an implement part carried thereby for vertical movement from a lowered operating position in which it tends to remain because of its own weight and a raised transport position to which it must be forcibly moved, the improvement comprising: a member movable on the frame; detachable link means connected and stressed between the implement part and the member so that said part and member may move in unison; spring means connected between the frame and the member and tensioned to urge the member in one direction to operate through the stressed link means to tend to balance the tendency of the implement part to remain in operating position; and motion-multiplying means detachably connectible between the member and implement part in parallel with the link means so that the implement part may be held downwardly and used as a lever to urge the member in the opposite direction for temporarily holding the member 15 against the tension of the spring means to provide for disconnection of the link means.

WILBUR J. COULTAS. NOLAN D. COLVIN. WILLIAM B. PALMER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of recordrln the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date Re. 21,819 Korsmo et a1 Jan. 3, 1941 Number 

